Gwinnett man’s disappearance treated ‘as if it were’ a homicide

Lawrenceville police were careful Wednesday not to call their probe into the disappearance of a local man a homicide investigation — but said they are treating the case “as if it were” one.

“We are putting resources on this case as if it were a homicide investigation,” Capt. Jeff Smith told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ” … We believe there are suspicious circumstances surrounding his disappearance that we’re investigating.”

Samuel Waters, 21, was last seen Jan. 4 during a “beer run” with an acquaintance. That person reportedly has told police that Waters asked to be let out of the car and walked off after being allowed to do so.

At the time of his disappearance, Waters’ fiancee was pregnant. The child has since been born.

Last week, authorities searched a home in Hall County and confiscated items that included a “burn barrel and the contents thereof,” Smith said. He said those items are being “scrutinized,” and that some of them will be transported to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab.

Smith declined to comment how or why the residence has been connected to Waters’ disappearance.